PREECEVILLE - The Preeceville Panthers senior boys basketball team won bronze medals for the second consecutive year at the 2023 Hoopla Provincial Basketball championships held in Prince Albert. Team members were: Porter George, Nathan Newbery, Matthew Korney, Lyndon Gawrelitza, Zac Sorgen, Noah Carroll, Floyd Pinaroc, Isaac Kashuba, Gerbo Javelona, Tristan Acosta, Brody Descalchuk and John Paul Somera.
Staff members were: Doug King, manager, and coaches Jay Steppan and Jeremy Mattison.
“It was a great experience, so much different than last year,” said Mattison. “Last year we were still under COVID guidelines and Hoopla was much smaller with only the 2A athletes in one location. This year it was huge with over 400 athletes representing the top schools in the province. It was all held on March 24 and 25 and was held in four different locations in Prince Albert.”
Preeceville’s first matchup was against the number one-ranked team, Saskatoon Legacy. Preeceville did not get off to great start and never played up to their potential that was accredited to nerves. “We still played well but just came up short for a 72-60 loss,” said coach Mattison.
Preeceville’s second game was against the notorious St. Brieux team who Preeceville had ran across in the St. Brieux home tournament. The St. Brieux team was ranked number three and Preeceville was ranked number four going into Hoopla.
“The gym was so packed and people lined up to watch the very intense game between the two opponents,” said Mattison. “It was very loud and electrifying, which helped Preeceville come out and possible play the best they have ever. We came out strong but got into some foul troubles, which set us back a little. But the team held their own and at halftime we were only down by two points. The third period was a back-and-forth battle with each team scoring. The fourth was the deciding point where Preeceville gained the momentum and never looked back until the buzzer sounded and we won the bronze medal over St. Brieux,” stated Mattison.
Mattison went to speak highly of the group who held on, worked together as a family, not just a team, and expressed gratitude on how extremely proud the coaches were of the team. The support from fans, the community, former players and family “has been so huge it was overwhelming.”
Preeceville team members Isaac Kashuba, Gerba Javelona and Zac Sorgen were selected to play in the All-Star Basketball championships that took place March 30 and 31.
